Introduction
Friskies is a popular brand of canned cat food made by Nestle Purina PetCare. Their canned cat foods come in a variety of flavors, textures, and formulas to meet different feline needs and preferences. While the specific ingredients vary between recipes, Friskies canned cat foods typically contain a mix of meat and meat by-products, grain thickeners, vegetables, fruits, and added nutrients.
Canned cat food provides a convenient way to feed cats a nutritionally balanced meal. The canning process allows for long shelf life without refrigeration. Canned foods have high moisture content which contributes to hydration. Friskies aims to provide complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats in their canned foods.
This article will examine the typical ingredients that go into Friskies canned cat foods. Understanding what is in your cat’s food allows you to make informed decisions about which formulas best meet your cat’s needs.
Meat ingredients
The primary ingredients in Friskies canned cat food are real meat and meat by-products. Friskies uses high-quality meats like chicken, turkey, beef, and seafood to provide protein. Chicken is one of the most common meat ingredients, followed by turkey and tuna.
Friskies contains chunks, shreds or flakes of meat in their canned recipes. Whole meat provides essential amino acids cats need. Muscle meat from poultry, beef, pork or fish are excellent sources of protein. Organ meats like liver can also be included. The meat ingredients vary based on the specific Friskies canned recipe.
Meat By-Products
By-products refer to the parts of an animal left over after slaughter and processing for human consumption. This can include organs like liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs, as well as animal feet, bones, blood, intestines, and more. While many people turn their nose up at by-products, they can provide important nutritional value to cat food.
There has been some controversy around by-products in pet foods. Some argue that by-products are lower quality or “leftover” parts not fit for human consumption. However, by-products can provide important nutrients like protein, minerals, and fatty acids to cats 1. Organ meats like liver are especially nutrient-dense. It’s also environmentally-friendly to use the whole animal rather than waste by-product parts.
When selecting products with by-products, it’s important to check the quality. Higher quality by-products will name the specific organs used, like “beef liver” or “chicken hearts.” Generic “meat by-products” may indicate lower grade parts. But overall, meat by-products can be a healthy, sustainable ingredient for cats when sourced responsibly.
Thickening Agents
Friskies canned cat foods contain thickening agents like carrageenan and guar gum to give the food a more substantial texture. These ingredients bind the liquid components and help create a thicker, spoonable consistency that cats enjoy. The added thickness makes the food easier for cats to eat from a can or pouch.
Carrageenan is a natural polysaccharide derived from red seaweed. It has no nutritional value but helps thicken the food. Guar gum comes from the seeds of the guar plant. Like carrageenan, it serves as a thickening agent without providing any notable nutrition.
Both carrageenan and guar gum are generally recognized as safe food additives by pet food regulatory bodies. They allow manufacturers to achieve the ideal texture for canned cat foods that cats find palatable. The thick, gravy-like consistency makes the food easy to eat right from the can.
Vegetables
Some common vegetables found in Friskies canned cat food include carrots and peas. According to the Friskies website, carrots are used as an ingredient in 1 recipe – Friskies Farm Favorites With Turkey & Garden Veggies1. Peas are also included in the Friskies Farm Favorites line, specifically the With Salmon & Garden Greens recipe1. Vegetables like carrots and peas provide vitamins, minerals and fiber to help support overall health and digestion in cats.
Fruits
Canned cat foods sometimes contain small amounts of fruits, which are added primarily for flavor and nutrition.1 Fruits provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Some of the fruits found in canned cat foods include tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, cranberries, blueberries, and apples.2 The fruits are cooked down into sauces or purees. While cats are obligate carnivores and do not naturally eat fruit, the small amounts added to canned foods can provide supplemental nutrition.3 Too much fruit can upset a cat’s digestive system, so reputable brands only include minimal amounts.
Artificial flavors
Friskies canned cat food contains both artificial and natural flavors. According to Friskies Wet Cat Food, their wet food recipes include ingredients like artificial and natural chicken flavor, artificial and natural fish flavor, and artificial and natural meaty juice.
The use of artificial flavors allows Friskies to provide consistent taste and aroma while keeping costs low. However, some pet owners prefer natural flavors only. Artificial flavors are synthesized chemical mixtures that mimic a natural flavor. Natural flavors are extracted from spices, fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. They are generally more expensive than artificial flavors.
While artificial flavors are considered safe by the FDA, some feel natural flavors are healthier for cats. The choice comes down to personal preference and budget. Friskies does use both types to appeal to a wide range of cat owners.
Preservatives
Preservatives are added to Friskies canned cat food to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth.Synthetic preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are commonly used. While there are concerns about potential health risks from BHA and BHT, pet food companies argue they are safe in the very low amounts used. Some Friskies formulas use “natural” preservatives like citric acid instead. However, studies show BHA, BHT and citric acid all preserve canned cat food equally well. So natural does not necessarily mean safer or more effective.
Nutritional adequacy
Friskies canned cat food meets the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for complete and balanced nutrition for adult maintenance according to the Quora article. The AAFCO sets minimum standards for the nutritional profiles of pet foods to ensure they provide complete nutrition for cats and dogs.
While some critics argue Friskies does not provide optimal nutrition compared to premium brands, studies have not found major deficiencies in Friskies’ ability to meet basic feline nutritional requirements according to AAFCO standards. Owners with concerns may wish to supplement with additional taurine, fatty acids, antioxidants or probiotics.
According to Purina’s feeding tests, Friskies canned formulas provide complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats when fed the sole diet. Purina conducts feeding tests on cat foods to evaluate nutritional adequacy and safety.
Conclusions
In summary, the key ingredients in Friskies canned cat food include meat, meat by-products, thickeners, vegetables, fruits, artificial flavors and preservatives. The main ingredients are animal-based proteins like chicken, beef or fish, which provide essential amino acids cats need. Meat by-products boost the protein content. Thickening agents like carrageenan give the food a appealing texture. Fruits and vegetables add vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
While Friskies canned food contains artificial flavors and preservatives like potassium sorbate to enhance taste and extend shelf life, it meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats. According to Friskies, their canned cat foods contain the right blend of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals cats require. So while not all natural, Friskies canned food provides balanced nutrition in an affordable, convenient wet food format.